CLEARFIELD – A former Lawrence Township Police officer entered a guilty plea Tuesday to a charge that he harassed a DuBois woman.
Matthew R. Houser, 29, of Clearfield, had been charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor, and harassment, a summary, following a March fight with his girlfriend.
Houser entered the guilty plea before Clearfield County Senior Judge John K. Reilly Jr. Tuesday on only the harassment charge.
Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. said by telephone Wednesday that the sentence given to Houser was within the guidelines for an assault charge.
“I’m satisfied because I believe it’s important to stick up for the victims of domestic violence.”
Shaw said the case was compounded after the victim in the case was not willing to cooperate with the prosecution. She told law enforcement at one point that Houser struck her. When the first court proceeding was scheduled, she asked for immunity — meaning she could not be prosecuted for statements she made — because she said her statements were misunderstood. She said Houser did not hit her and that she had made “a false statement.”
Prosecutors were able to use testimony from the investigating trooper in the case to hold the charges for a higher court.
In total, Houser served 35 days in the Clearfield County Jail after his bail was revoked in the case on May 8.
He was officially terminated from his police officer position by Lawrence Township on May 15.
Clearfield County Judge Fredric J. Ammerman ruled that Houser violated a condition of his bail that stated he was to have no contact with the victim in the case. The judge found that Houser not only called her cell phone, but he also carried out an elaborate plan to park his vehicle at the DuBois Regional Medical Center and then drive the victim’s waiting car to her apartment.
Shaw said he believed the case pointed to the fear some victims experience.
“It’s troubling that victims of domestic violence are often too afraid to stick up for themselves or take the action that needs to be taken to protect themselves.”
Shaw also said that the fact that Houser was a police officer at the time compounds the issue.
“It’s unacceptable behavior for a law enforcement officer.”
On June 16, 2006, Houser was found not guilty of assault relating to an alleged argument that happened in the parking lot of Days Inn in Lawrence Township on April 9, 2005. The judge in that case ruled that he was guilty of three summary counts and not guilty on one summary charge. Other charges of official oppression and obstructing administration of law were dismissed by the judge. Those counts were filed in connection with an April 18, 2005, visit Houser made to the “lower” Uni-Mart in Curwensville to talk to someone who might have witnessed the Days Inn fight. When he visited the potential witness, Houser was in his police uniform.